Developing Biblical Discernment

In the postmodern era, biblical discernment seems to be in short supply. There are unlimited resources available for us to gain insight and knowledge. With online tools like blogs, vlogs, unlimited bible apps, and translations with word studies, everyone has access to more than scholars had just 100 years ago. And yet, developing biblical discernment seems to be a uniquely harder challenge now than ever. Why is that? And if we wanted to, how could we develop Biblical Discernment?

Discernment is a broad term that has common misconceptions attached to it. When you ask a group of Christian believers, “What is discernment?” you are bound to get a lot of varying answers. More often than not, however, the answer is that it is a supernatural gift God gives believers. We can easily believe that it is a thing some have, and some don’t. And that alone requires discernment! It isn’t completely wrong, and it isn’t totally right.

Consider the words of Hebrews 5:14: “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (English Standard Version)

Scripture is full of commandments, with one common theme from Genesis to Revelation being the responsibility of each believer to develop the skill of discernment. Paul, in Hebrews 5:11-14, relates maturity in the Word of Righteousness (Scripture) to the digestive growth of humans. Infants cannot digest solid foods and instead live on milk. And, like a parent slowly introducing solid foods to a child, so too we develop discernment by being fed the meat of God’s word.

What is Discernment?

This is the meaning of Paul’s words in Hebrews. Young, infant believers consume the milk of the Word. More mature believers consume the meat of the Word and then become teachers themselves. This, however, creates a potential problem: We believe that teachers and preachers have developed discernment, and thus, we naturally accept what is being taught without question.

Consider then the words of Job 34:4: “Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.” (New International Version) Job makes a clear statement. It is every individual’s need to discern what is good and right, vs. what is bad and evil. But how do we do that? What exactly is discernment?

Unlike Neo in the Matrix, we cannot simply plug in and download these unknown skills. Neither, unfortunately, is it simply a spiritual gift given to all believers. While 1 Corinthians 12:10 shows the ability to distinguish between spirits as a gift given to some, individual discernment goes beyond that.

Knowing God’s Word

Consider the story of Paul and Silas in Berea. (Acts 17:10-12) There, they taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews in the synagogue, and converted many of them. This is the meaning of the phrase, “many of them believed”. But the scripture gives us a definitive example of discernment, saying, “they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

The Noble Bereans were the ones who compared every teaching to Scripture. Does what your pastor teaches line up with the Word? You’ll only know that if you also know the Word. And knowing the Word takes diligent time and study. This is why Paul said the mature are those trained by constant practice.

Being Led by the Holy Spirit

It is easy to think of discernment as more like an intuition. A gut feeling. Mothers Intuition. But consider this: How does a mother gain what we call mother’s intuition? Well, the answer is quite simple: by being a mother. Over the 18 years of raising a child, and if she is blessed, raising multiple children, she learns their habits, patterns, manipulations, and behaviors. She learns and predicts: what we label as intuition.

This is not the same as the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth”. (John 16:14) Part of the work of the Holy Spirit is to nudge us and convict us. Perhaps when we are listening to a teaching or about to make a decision, it is the Holy Spirit that may put up a roadblock.

Actively seeking Wisdom

Developing the power of discernment also includes the active, purposeful pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. In the book of Hosea, God utters through the prophet this wisdom: “For my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6) Proverbs 3:5 teaches us not to lean on our own understanding, and Proverbs 15:22 declares that “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisors they succeed.”

Seeking wisdom must include many sources. We will never truly develop discernment in wisdom by living on an island of faith. And, we must request wisdom from God, who promises that he will give liberally when we ask in faith. (James 1:5)

Thinking Critically

We must not believe and accept every teaching that comes through many sources. Rather, we are not to be critical of them, but to think critically about them. Jesus warns in Matthew 24:24 that many false teachers will come to deceive. This is repeated in 1 John 4:1 where we are commanded to test the motivations of every teacher, to see if they align with the Will and Word of God.

The word used in 1 John 4:1 for spirit (test every spirit) is the Greek pneuma, which can mean wind, breath, or force. It is often used for the Holy Spirit, but can be synonymous with ‘demonic’ as well. That is to say, John was telling us to test the teachings to see whether they come from the Holy Spirit or from a demonic spirit.

How to develop Discernment

Developing the vital skill of discernment is critically important for the modern believer. Not just from the pursuits of atheism, but more importantly, from the wolves in sheep’s clothing. The Scriptures teach that the great falling away, what we call the apostasy, will not come from without, but within. It will be the false teachers and false prophets that will deceive many, even the most mature in the Word (were that possible).

And if discernment is a skill, then the logical conclusion is how to develop it! Like mother’s intuition, it is something learned over time, through practice, such as was spoken of in Hebrews 5:14. A newly graduated medical doctor opens a practice to perfect his or her skill. Meastro is a title given to master musicians, reserved for those who have purposefully, diligently, and carefully practiced their art to levels of precision.

Thus, how we develop discernment is by practicing it. The next time you are in a church service, or read a blog (like this one!), or watch a YouTube ministry, stop, listen, or pay attention to what is being taught. You can pause videos and meditate on the words being spoken. You can slowly read a paragraph here and follow the same four steps listed above. It may look something like this;

Testing the Preaching

A pastor in your local assembly teaches a lesson on Tithes and Offerings. Many comments are made, and hopefully, many scriptural references are given. What would your first step be to confirm for yourself whether or not the teaching was right or wrong? Remember, teaching ministers are just other men and women and may make mistakes too!

Step 1: Align it to the Word of God. Meditate on the Scriptures given, and investigate passages related to the topic that may not have been shared in the teaching. What do they say? Be like the Noble Bereans of Acts 17 and make Scripture the standard of truth, not men.

Step 2: Listen for that small, still voice of the Holy Spirit. (1 Kings 19:12) We cannot trust our feelings, but there are times the Spirit may nudge you and speak to you in the affirmative or negative. Did the teaching ring true, or did it make your eyebrows go up? Don’t listen to your heart – that’s terrible advice. But you can let that feeling push you to step 3.

Step 3: Run that teaching by several other godly people you know. Remember, there is safety with many advisors. And do not be afraid to broaden your horizons of advisors. Confirmation Bias is real, something I call denominational blinders. Run the teaching by people of different denominational backgrounds. How do they handle the Word on this topic?

Step 4: Don’t be critical, but think critically! Sometimes, this is the hardest step because it takes effort. 1 John 4:1 tells us to ‘try every spirit’. That means literally, don’t believe everything you are told, ask, ‘Who benefits from my obedience to this teaching?’, and if it is the teacher, then perhaps they are not motivated by the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

Developing discernment doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does need to be purposeful. This easy, 4-step plan can be used any time you hear, read, or watch any kind of teaching. Is it truly in alignment with God’s Word? How does the Holy Spirit lead you? What do many of your advisors say? And who benefits from the teaching?

The conclusion of any teaching where discernment guides your beliefs will be peace. Either the teaching brings value to you, or you reject it. Either way, confusion is set aside. Deceivers lose their power. And you mature in faith, growing spiritual muscles with every workout.

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